U.S. patent application number 09/682288 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-21 for displaying information on a portable digital device by transmission of a universal resource locator over a short-range radio frequency link.
Invention is credited to Sepanaho, Stefan.
Application Number | 20020022961 09/682288 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27397500 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020022961 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sepanaho, Stefan |
February 21, 2002 |
Displaying information on a portable digital device by transmission
of a universal resource locator over a short-range radio frequency
link
Abstract
A short-range radio transmitter establishes a link to a portable
digital device (user device) within the transmitters range and
transmits a universal resource locator (URL) to the device. As the
user device receives the transmission, software is launched, and
the software requests information from the transmitted URL via a
different radio frequency link. The present invention allows
individuals and businesses to install short-range radio
transmitters in specific locations and cause a user device within a
definable range to automatically display relevant information
associated with that location. The information includes
advertising, product, equipment, inventory, online payment
processing, and information relating to any additional field.
Inventors: |
Sepanaho, Stefan;
(Summerland, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TRACY W. DRUCE
KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP
11130 SUNRISE VALLEY DRIVE
SUITE 300
RESTON
VA
20191-4329
US
|
Family ID: |
27397500 |
Appl. No.: |
09/682288 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60225611 |
Aug 15, 2000 |
|
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60242625 |
Oct 23, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/1.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 1/72412 20210101;
G06Q 30/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/60 |
Claims
1. A method for disseminating information related to a locale, the
method comprising: locating a transmitter in an area frequented by
persons potentially desirous of information related to the locale;
broadcasting a universal resource locator (URL) capable of being
received by a user device carried by such persons; receiving the
URL at the user device; initiating an inquiry by the user device to
an information database; and receiving information from the
information database related to the locale.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a
programmable radio frequency transmitter.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises a
portable computer, digital mobile phone, personal digital
assistant, or any other portable digital device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user device comprises
software operable for interpreting a radio frequency transmission,
translating the radio frequency transmission into a URL, launching
additional software programs on the user device, retrieving
information represented by the URL, storing information, and
handling and transmitting information over a secondary radio
frequency link.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitter further comprises
a preprogrammed non-volatile random access memory unit, a universal
resource identifier (URI), or an Internet protocol (IP)
address.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information database
comprises an application server, a web server, a file server, or a
database server.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises
advertising, product, transaction, online payment processing,
equipment tracking, identification, warehouse management, and any
additional information.
8. A system for disseminating information related to a locale, the
system comprising: a short-range radio transmitter, located in an
area frequented by persons potentially desirous of information
related to the locale, operable for broadcasting a universal
resource locator (URL) a user device carried by such persons
operable for receiving the URL; and an information database
operable for receiving/sending locale related information to/from
the user device.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitter comprises a
programmable radio frequency transmitter.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises a
portable computer, digital mobile phone, personal digital
assistant, or any other portable digital device.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the user device comprises
software operable for interpreting a radio frequency transmission,
translating the radio frequency transmission into a URL, launching
additional software programs on the user device, retrieving
information represented by the URL, storing information, and
handling and transmitting information over a secondary radio
frequency link.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitter further
comprises a preprogrammed non-volatile random access memory unit, a
universal resource identifier (URI), or an Internet protocol (IP)
address.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the information database
comprises an application server, a web server, a file server, or a
database server.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises
advertising, product, transaction, online payment processing,
equipment tracking, identification, warehouse management, and any
additional information.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/225,611 filed Aug. 15, 2000 and U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/242,625 filed Oct. 23, 2000, each of which are
expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to apparatus and
methods utilizing a radio frequency (RF) link between a
preprogrammed transmitter and a portable digital device (user
devices), such as a portable computer, digital mobile phone or
personal digital assistant. A universal resource locator (URL) is
transmitted to such a user device. The transmission of the URL
causes an appropriate software program to be executed on the user
device. This software program will in turn launch the appropriate
software program, such as an Internet Browser or Micro Browser, and
pass or transmit the URL so that the appropriate information may be
loaded from that URL through another RF link, such as a digital
mobile telephone network.
[0003] The present invention is amenable to any number of different
applications in which locale-based information is desirably
received or exchanged based on the recipient's proximate presence.
Examples of suited uses can be found in varying arenas including
advertising, product information, online payment processing,
equipment tracking and identification, and warehouse
management.
[0004] The present invention further provides a person who
physically approaches a locale, information about that specific
locale, or product or service that is situated in the locale.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides systems and methods for
receiving and exchanging information based on a user's proximate
presence. In one embodiment, the method of the present invention
requires locating a transmitter in an area frequented by persons
potentially desirous of information related to the locale. The
transmitter broadcasts a universal resource locator (URL) which is
received by a user device carried by such persons desirous of the
locale related information. The user device then initiates an
inquiry based on the URL, to an information database. The
information database receives the URL from the portable user device
and sends information related to the locale back to the user
device. The user views the information from the database using the
portable digital device.
[0006] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
transmitter comprises a programmable radio frequency transmitter
and the user device comprises a portable computer, digital mobile
phone, personal digital assistant, or any other portable digital
device.
[0007] The user device includes software which is able to interpret
a radio frequency transmission, translate the radio frequency
transmission into the URL, launch additional software programs on
the user device, retrieve information represented by the URL, store
information, and handle and transmit information over a secondary
radio frequency link.
[0008] Locale information desired by a user may include
advertising, product, transaction, online payment processing,
equipment tracking, identification, warehouse management, and any
additional information related to a specific locale.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention will now be described in greater detail in the
following way of example only and with reference to the attached
drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a flow-chart illustrating functional details of
one embodiment of a system in which locale-based information is
received or exchanged based on a recipient's proximate
presence;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating several
components of a transmission device utilized in the system of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow-chart illustrating operational aspects of
an exemplary transmission device;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow-chart illustrating operational aspects of
software in a recipient's device; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flow-chart illustrating operational aspects of a
server module of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Specific
structural and functional disclosed herein are not to be
interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and
as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention.
[0016] In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes a short
range radio frequency device placed in a specific location to
provide the user of a hand-held unit, such as a digital mobile
phone, personal digital assistant or a portable computer, with
information relevant to the user's specific location.
[0017] The present invention includes the utilization of a radio
frequency (RF) link between a programmable transmitter (permanently
or volatilely) and a portable digital device (user devices), such
as a portable computer, digital mobile phone or a personal digital
assistant, across which a universal resource locator (URL) is
transmitted from the transmitter to the user device. The systems,
methods, programs, and processes described in relation to the
present invention are not limited to any particular user device.
The user device may be a single device, or it may be a plurality of
devices working in concert. The transmission will cause the
execution of a software program on the user device. This software
program will in turn launch the appropriate software program, such
as an Internet browser or micro browser, and pass the URL so that
the appropriate information may be loaded from that URL through
another RF link, such as a digital mobile telephone network.
[0018] In one embodiment, the invention includes a programmable RF
transmitter and software which is contained within the user device.
In this context, two different types of RF transmitters may be
utilized in the invention. The transmitter may either consist of a
standalone unit, in which case the URL will be preprogrammed and
stored in non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), or connected
to another central processing unit (CPU), in which case the CPU
will supply the RF transmitter with the URL.
[0019] The software contained within the user device may perform
one or more of the following functions: (1) interpret the RF
transmission received and translate it into a URL; (2) launch other
software programs, on the user device, that retrieve the
information represented by the URL over a secondary RF link; (3)
securely store sensitive information such as credit card details,
user names and passwords; (4) add stored information to responses
over the secondary RF link; and (5) handle the retrieval and
transmission of information over the secondary RF link.
[0020] Typically, the user device will have the hardware components
required to handle the two RF links already installed.
Alternatively, appropriate modifications may be required to
accommodate the functions described herein.
[0021] A server may be connected to the user device through a
combination of wired and/or RF links, the links being public or
private. Private links include a wireless local area network (LAN),
a wide area network (WAN), and an internal Ethernet. Public links
may include a digital mobile phone network and the Internet, or any
combination of the same. The server may also be directly or
indirectly connected to the RF transmitters from which the URL
originates.
[0022] The server contains software which is operable for receiving
the URL, performing processing and communication with other systems
(such as those used in credit card authorization), and returning
the information identified by the URL to the user device. Connected
CPUs and RF transmitters may be notified as a result of the
processing. The server may be a persistent storage device, such as
an application server, a web server, a file server, or a database
server. The system may be set-up such that the server may
communicate information to and acquire information from a plurality
of remote users simultaneously.
[0023] Aspects of certain embodiments of the invention are
illustrated in the accompanying figures. An overview of the
components of the system are found in FIG. 1. The URL broadcast
device (7 and FIG. 2) consists of a non-volatile random access
memory unit (24) that is preprogrammed with a URL, a universal
resource identifier (URI), or a string, such as an Internet
protocol (IP) address, that will allow any user device with a
connection to the Internet to access the relevant information.
[0024] The CPU of the URL broadcast device (23) interfaces with the
non-volatile RAM unit (24) and a radio transceiver module (22), and
is operable for performing the operations outlined in FIG. 3. The
CPU may be, for example, a microprocessor. Suitable examples of
microprocessors include, but are not limited to, those manufactured
by Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Intel
Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.), Motorola, Inc. (Schaumberg,
Ill.), International Business Machines Corp. (Armonk, N.Y.), and
Transmeta Corp. (Santa Clara, Calif.).
[0025] The radio transceiver module (22) may include any industry
standard digital transmission protocol such as Bluetooth.TM.
(Motorola, Inc.), IEEE 802.11 b (The Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers), or similar, and is connected to an antenna
(21). The "Bluetooth" protocol defines a universal radio interface
in the 2.45 GHz frequency band that enables wireless electronic
devices to connect and communicate wirelessly via short-range, ad
hoc networks.
[0026] After the URL broadcaster module has scanned and connected
to a compatible device (31 33), the module reads the URL (34) from
the non-volatile RAM unit (24) and transmits the URL to the user's
device. (35 and 8).
[0027] The user device (9) will then execute the operation as
outlined in the flow chart in FIG. 4. The user device is constantly
scanning for a compatible unit (41), and when a device is found
(42), the user device will receive the URL (43). The software will
then determine whether or not the URL received was new or the same
as a previously loaded URL (44). If the URL is determined to be
new, the software adds a unique identifier and loads the page (45
and 10) by establishing a secondary digital RF link (11). It should
be noted that the secondary digital RF link may be handled by the
public telephone network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), or
through a secondary link to the URL broadcaster module, should this
device be linked to the Internet.
[0028] A secondary digital transceiver (11) will request the
information (12) from the server identified by the URL. A server
module (13) will then perform the operations outlined in the
flow-chart in FIG. 5. The server module will first extract the
location identification from the URL (51), and then request the
information associated with the location from permanent storage
(52, 14, 15). The server module will then determine whether or not
the location is a payment location (53). If the location is not
determined to be a payment location, and the current transaction is
not a payment transaction, the information may be personalized
according to the user's preferences (59) and sent back to the
user's device via the previously established secondary digital RF
link (15 17).
[0029] If the location is determined to be a payment location, and
the transaction is a payment transaction (53), the server module
will authorize the payment (54) as a credit card transaction. If
the payment is not authorized (55), a message indicating that
payment was not accepted will be sent back to the client device via
the secondary digital RF link previously established (58 and 15
17). If the payment was accepted (55), the server module will
notify the cash register (56) and the client device (57) that the
payment was accepted.
[0030] The methods and systems of the present invention are
amenable to any number of different applications in which
locale-based information is desirably received or exchanged based
on the user's proximate presence. The present invention may be
implemented in advertising, where a merchant may place a
transmitter inside the entrance of a business establishment that
immediately causes a consumer's personal communication device to
load information about a store's special offers upon entrance. A
merchant may place a transmitter(s) in strategic positions within
an establishment so that the user/customer can either selectively
or automatically receive information about products and services
offered in proximity of the transmitter.
[0031] A transmitter may be connected to a checkout device, such as
a cash-register, and may transmit a URL to the user device,
allowing the user device to download information related to the
transaction being accomplished through the secondary RF link. The
user may then choose to transmit, over the secure secondary RF
link, previously stored credit card details as a response to the
request. Server software may then authorize the credit-card charge
and notify the checkout device if the authorization was or was not
successful.
[0032] The present invention allows for businesses to track and
service various types of equipment and machinery by attaching a
transmitter to the equipment. When maintenance personnel are in the
vicinity of the equipment, their user device may automatically
download relevant information relating to the equipment, and the
information may be used for diagnostics, repair procedures, and any
other information desired by the user.
[0033] The present invention aids in warehouse management by
allowing an operator to equip product shelves in a warehouse, or
similar setting, with an RF transmitter(s) that enables personnel
in the warehouse to retrieve information related to stock quantity,
price, expected deliveries and the like, by positioning their user
device within reception range of the transmitter.
[0034] The present invention may be advantageously employed in any
location in which it is expected that a user desiring knowledge
related to a particular locale, or product or service situated in
the locale, will have a physical presence in the locale.
[0035] Methods and systems for information dissemination have been
described herein. These, and other variations, which will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, are within the intended
scope of this invention as claimed below. As previously stated,
detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein;
however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are
merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various
forms.
* * * * *